I watched the river closely.
While it always followed the same path
On its way to meet the sea,
You could never say it was the same river
You looked at only moments ago.
The water had moved on and
There was always a random pattern
To its surface as it passed by the bank and over the rocks.
Nothing repeated, all was change.
Each second another event,
A constant state of flux.
Looking on, I suddenly felt heavy
And inert and I told myself
I must learn from the river and flow.
Thoughts meandered through my head
Like cigarette smoke caught in sunlight,
Insubstantial and lost to the air.
The river was calling.
I rose up and began to wade into the water.
The current was strong and I felt the power
As it carried me off my feet,
And so I floated, cradled by its might
And I heard a voice saying “come with me,
I have something show you”.
The voice was not mine,
The thoughts were not mine
For I had left thinking on the river bank.
All things in this world talk,
But one must listen carefully as some only whisper.
I was not curious about the promised revelation the river had made.
I trusted implicitly and replied “so it must be”.
Presently the river took me by a dense forest.
One tree stood out, some of its roots
Exposed by the very action of the flowing river,
Undermining its grasp of the world.
The wind caused its leaves to flutter
And I heard it whisper and
I found myself standing before it.
It was massive and ancient and I felt humbled.
“Get up off your knees, your piety does not cut it with me”
The tree said angrily, then added,
Quite gently “how can I help you?”
“I am looking for something tree”
“Well, aren’t we all? Not bad, a legitimate enquiry,
But it has dangers”.
He fell silent.
The wind gathered up and he spoke again.
“ The river comes to a fork,
It is very important you listen carefully now.
One way leads to oblivion, the other,
Peace and happiness.
The big deal here is you may not know which to take.
The river will not guide you. So you must prepare”.
I cannot tarry here,
There are creatures
Requiring my attention.
Yes, the forest is generous
Shelter for many
Even shade for the axeman
Who would fell me. Be on your way
Talk to the fox
He harbours nearby
But remember, he is sly.
I walked through the woods
Then I saw him.
Forgive me friend.
I saw you first
State your business.
I seek some wisdom.
White-bibbed, rusty coat.
But his eyes reflected moonlight.
Surely, Surely I had found a similar kind
Oh yes, we are not too different.
You live on instinct I do too
But mine are better honed,
More refined, if you will.
Do I spill the beans?
Chased by dogs, men on horses.
They wear red coats
Whats that about Look?
I say stay alert You are not hunted,
Like I.
You call it a sport,
Nothing of the sort.
Don’t hang your head in shame,
I forgive the blame
You feel.
The fox passed by.
His parting shot
“Talk to the rabbit”
“And where is he?”
Forget that
He will find you
Like I did.
With that he was gone
So I walked on,
Deeper and deeper.
The trees folded in on me,
Darkness reigned.
The cold chilled my bones
Then he was there.
Like that creature
In the Donnie Darko movie.
“That’s some fucking rabbit”
“Do you always resort to profanity”?
“Only when scared” I dared to say.
Come closer child
The wood is dark
Did you loose your way?
I suspect I did.
Don’t live in fear,
Look through the mirror
I have one here What do you see?
